death caused by over medication???

[gaylelynn]

My spouce started on the 25 mcg patches every 72 hours. for the first month ...then on dr. visit the next month was upgraded to the 50 mcg patch. every 48 hours...He was on 10-325 hydrocodone and 10 oxycodone. ceriquil. valium, soma, and blood pressure meds and smbium for sleep.  He went to bed on the night of the 28th feeling fine and died in his sleep...found him the morning of the 29th od Dec. and he was cold and blue and had passed in his sleep...I think to many meds to apply to one persons body but I did not realize all this and nothing was explained to us...was perscribed by a good  P.A. I thought that I go too also....He had open heart surgery a year ago and the laser back surgery in Feb.   Had stenosis of the spine and osteo. arthritis..but still I think to meny meds of the same kind...Have had to pick him up out of the floor 14 times since the heart and back surgery...Why would  a Dr. perscribe this many different pain meds and all the others at the same time???? THEY should know the danger..He had just turned 64 and acted really so much better after the surgeries he had had but then this was added...should something should have been taken of the list when the patches were added????  They did a tox screen before his cremation but it has only been 4 days for me and having areally tough time of all this...I have serious health problems  3 brain surgeries cancer surviver and hip replacement, so need and good Dr but am afraid to go back to this Good Dr. P.A. and I really like her and her manner  with patients but afraid of something...she may refuse to see me anyway after this cause I am sure after the tox screen they will find high levels of something that caused his pre-mature passing...Hope I have made some sense here--still so upset and shaking and dealing with stroke level blood pressure. can't think straight, eat or sleep...WHY????? and HOW???can this happen and how many people die from this drug and any combinations they shoud not be on but patients do not know all this cause we are not the educated ones in these things....an answer please  Gayle Lynn

[BOK2Bjan]

I don't have any words that could possibly heal your raw wound right now, but I did want to express my sorrow for what you're going through.  It sounds like you have both been through a lot together.  He was fortunate to have such a caring wife.  It also sounds like he had a caring physician.  You may never know for sure what the exact reason for his death was, but it is a blessing that he had some good days prior to his death, and he died in a peaceful way.

Doctors so often have to weigh the pros and cons of medications.  The benefits always come with side effects that can be dangerous - more for some than others.  The fact that he had problems with his heart may have meant he was in a weakened state. (Did you know if he had sleep apnea?) The side effects medications have are usually going to be that much worse, both as we age, and as our health declines.

I think you are right to question and see what the tox screen says - both to understand what happened, and to give you peace of mind.  But, if your doctor is good with you - explains things well, and listens to your concerns well - I'd stay.  It is hard to find a good doctor.  You sound like you are intelligent and stay informed, so if you stay with this Dr. moving forward, just make sure you speak with your pharmacist and also closely monitor your reactions to any medications you are given.  Also - have only one pharmacist - they monitor how the meds mix together for you, which is such a help. Of course only you can decide and know what is best.

Treat yourself well right now.  It is of course going to be a very stressful time for you, so I too, hope you have family and friends close by who can help you.  I pray right now that you have peace and that your grief does not overwhelm you, and that the wonderful memories that you have fill your heart, and also that God's love and the love and care of others gives you strength.

Blessings to you, Jan

[sueduva]

I  am so sorry that your spouse passed away. This is such a sad time for you.  I hope you have some friends or family to help you while you are grieving.

And I think you are right, that he had been on too many drugs and that probably caused him to stop breathing. The fentanyl patches are very strong drugs,
so I am surprised he was given them on top of the other meds.

But maybe, at his last appointment he told the dr. he was in a lot of pain, and that is why they decided to try the 50mcg?

I also wanted to share with you, that i have used Fentanly patches in the past for my chronic pain.  I also started with the 25mcg patch, and then
I did try the 50mcg patch and I started to have trouble breathing?  I was in bed for 2 days and didn't realize I was going into respiratory failure!  But luckily I did remove the patch.

Now your question about your Dr. is going to be a very personal decision for you?  If you like her, and you feel confident with her care, it would be easier to stay with her since she knows your conditions.  But if you feel she was negligent and she was the one prescribing  all of the meds, then you may want to shop for a new Dr.  A Dr. you can share all of your concerns with?

For me, living in severe chronic pain, I sometimes do say a prayer before bed, I pray to die peacefully in my sleep.  
Take care Gayle Lynn, I know it must be so hard for you right now. I really don't know the right words to say, but I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.  Love Sue

[omhome]

my god so sorry gaylelynn. The only very small comfort i can offer is he probably died without waking and just stopped breathing. Many people it seems pass peacefully in their sleep just like that. Many wish to die just like that.
       Whenever sleeping pills and opiates are taken together there is a risk of the breathing just outright stopping. Toxicology will tell you if that was the case.
   Let's shift the focus to you and your health as that is what i see is your concern. Rightly so. And it is ok---it is not inappropriate for you to do that now. Please do. And some really good folks are gonna post in with much better info for you soon .    Take a breath hon----a little time--a little soup! Ha!---it'll be alright.   omhome

[caregiver222]

You have to go to the medical examiner and request the autopsy and toxicology report. This reporty may take from four to sixteen nweeks. Normally, this is only available to a close relative. You have my condolances.